Nov. 3, 2006

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TULSA, Okla - The first semifinal match-up of the 2006 Conference USA men's soccer championship in Tulsa, Okla. needed a shootout to decide the winner. After playing to a 1-1 tie through regulation and two ten minute overtimes, SMU put away UAB 3-1 in the deciding shootout. SMU Goalie Matt Wideman stopped the first two UAB shots fired his direction as his teammates put theirs into the back of the net. After another score by both teams, Wideman stopped the fourth Blazer try to seal the victory. SMU advances to play the winner of the second semifinal between No. 2 Kentucky and No. 3 Tulsa in Sunday's championship game.

The teams played to a scoreless first half. SMU fired six shots, while UAB was credited with five. In the second half, UAB grabbed the early advantage on a Jerson Monteriro goal. Carlo Schiavoni passed to Trey Gergory who then tapped it to Monteriro for the score from nine yards out.

SMU countered in the 69th minute on a spectacular goal by Paulo DaSilva. There was a scrum in front of the net and the ball was deflected out and then passed towards the middle. DaSilva layed out and kicked the ball back over his head from eight yards out past Wes Johnson for the equalizer.

The score remained deadlocked at the end of regulation and the teams played even throughout the two ten minute overtime periods.

In the shootout, Wideman stopped the first Blazer try by Lukasz Kwapisz. SMU's Mynor Gonzalez buried his try for the 1-0 SMU advantage. Wideman again made a great save on Monteiro's try and Chase Wileman followed with another SMU score. Derick Radcliffe scored UAB's first successful try to cut the lead to 2-1, but it was short lived as Jordan Mann scored the Mustangs' third-straight try for a 3-1 advantage. Wideman made his final great save on Carlo Schiavoni's try to seal the shootout win.

SMU head coach Schellas Hyndman was impressed by both team's effort.

"I think UAB is a very good team and they are a great team to play against," Hyndman said. "They make you do things that you are not comfortable doing. They are strong and they play with three front runners. They are very athletic and they have a lot of talent. I thought our boys being down a goal, came back great. When it went to PK, I felt comfortable because I thought our goalie does a real good job with that."

SMU improves to 16-1-4 with the win, while UAB finishes their regular season at 10-6-3. The championship game will be aired live on CSTV beginning Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.